Module 10: African Civilizations
Module 10: African Civilizations
Four major areas of civilization emerged in early Africa: the grasslands south of the Sahara, western Africa, the northern desert regions, and eastern Africa. Each area was unique, but the regions became more interconnected as a result of two major developments: the domestication of the camel and the arrival of Islam in Africa. The camel facilitated trade over long distances, including the vast Sahara Desert, while Islam connected Africa more closely to cultures and trade systems in the Mediterranean and the Middle East.
In this unit, we will examine the emergence of highly varied African kingdoms. Some, such as Mwenemutapa, developed in isolation from much of the rest of Africa, while others, such as the Swahili kingdoms in east Africa, were heavily influenced by the Arab world. We will pay close attention to commercial and agricultural advancements in Africa as well as to the rise and impact of Islam.
Time Advisory
This unit will take you 7.5 hours to complete.
- Section 10.1 African Societies: 4 hours
- Section 10.2 States of the Savanna: 1.5 hours
- Section 10.3 East Africa and Swahili Culture: 0.5 hours
- Section 10.4 Western and Central Africa: 1 hours
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Section 10.5 Module 10 Quiz: 0.5 hours
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to:
- Identify the cultural origins of early African civilizations.
- Assess the importance of animal domestication, particularly of the camel, and its influence in the development of trade networks.
- Assess the impact of Islamic expansion as an ideologically cohesive agent in Africa.
Section 10.1 The Arabian World and the Birth of Islam
Please read this article in its entirety. Pay special attention to how civilization spread from the Middle East to Africa.
The Rise of Civilization in the Middle East
Links to an external site.
Please read the sections of the article entitled “African Geography,” “African Roots of Human Society and Culture,” “The Food Production Revolution in Africa,” and “West Africa in Antiquity.” This will give you a good overview of the development of the earliest civilizations in Africa.
Ancient African Civilization to ca. 1500
Links to an external site.
Please read this webpage in its entirety. Please pay special attention to how iron transformed these early African cultures.
The Rest of the Story about Africa
Links to an external site.
Please read the entirety of the introduction and the selection, paying special attention to Leo Africanus’s detailed descriptions of trade networks in central Africa.
Description of Timbuktu
Links to an external site.
Please read the section titled “The Kingdom of Ghana” in its entirety in order to get a sense of the emergence of the prominent kingdom of Ghana.
Africa's Kingdoms and Empires
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Section 10.2 The Arab Empire of the Umayyads
Please read the entirety of this article to learn about the culture and society of the kingdom of Mali.
The Empires of Western Sudan: Mali Empire
Links to an external site.
Please read “The Hausa Kingdoms,” about the origins and characteristics of the Hausa people.
The Hausa Kingdoms
Download The Hausa Kingdoms
Please read the section titled “The Kingdom of Songhay” in its entirety in order to get a sense of the emergence and importance of this early African culture.
African Kingdoms and Empires
Links to an external site.
Section 10.3 From Arab to Islamic Empire: The Early Abbasid Era
Please read this article in its entirety, and make sure to listen to the radio series “The Swahili Coast” presented by Hugh Quarshie (at the end of the article) in order to get a sense of the kingdoms that emerged in eastern Africa.
The Story of Africa: The Swahili
Links to an external site.
Section 10.4 Western and Central Africa
Please read the entirety of this article in order to get a sense of Benin and other city states that emerged in western Africa.
Section 10.5 Quiz
Please take the assigned quiz and submit for grading. This quiz pertains to Chapter 13 of the textbook World Civilizations: The Global Experience, published by Pearson Education.